Results 4,161-4,180 of 6,030 for speaker:Brendan Ryan

Seanad: Constitution for Europe: Statements. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: Cuirim fáilte roimh an díospóireacht agus roimh Bhaill Pharlaimint na hEorpa atá i láthair. I am perhaps unique among the group leaders in that I am the only one who had some European ambitions at the last European election. I am glad the voters of Munster decided I was better off in this House and obviously since I could not go to Europe, I had to do my best to bring Europe here. The...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: We all welcome the release of Dr. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam by the Sudanese authorities. There is no doubt the role of the Government and other parties contributed to his safety in custody and his speedy release. His wife and daughter were presented with an award last Friday by the President. All Members would welcome another debate on aviation policy, which seems to change by the week. It now...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I am not sure whether the third one is a fictitious item to cover the nakedness of the Progressive Democrats. Nevertheless, a debate is necessary on this issue. In view of the Government's extraordinary apparent decision to sell a majority of the State's shareholding in Aer Lingus, one must wonder whether any consideration has been given to the national interest in this matter. Will the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: It is the clearest indication that the Progressive Democrats are returning to its party of origin and want to govern by spending money on hospitals according to political priorities rather than medical needs.

Seanad: Order of Business. (18 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: This decision should be reversed.

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I second the motion.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: It is a pity the Minister did not provide us with a script. It would have been helpful.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: The Senator is not as provocative.

Seanad: Anti-Social Behaviour: Motion. (11 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I am one of the world's great law and order liberals. While I continue to be reluctant to portray crime as being worse than it is, one learns lessons in politics and would be very foolish to use the information with which one is provided. I was a candidate for the Dáil in the 2002 general election, but the Seanad did not lose me in spite of my best efforts. While it was a difficult election...

Seanad: Pension Provisions: Statements. (11 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Pension Provisions: Statements. (11 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I had not intended to contribute but I observed from my office that the numbers were a little scarcer than I thought and I would like to make a few comments. The Minister deserves to be complimented because he has kicked out a ball and forced people to debate issues such as compulsion that they were circumnavigating. I am not sure we will be as laudatory when he proposes his solutions. It is...

Seanad: Pension Provisions: Statements. (11 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I accept many of Senator Mansergh's corrections but I do not want him to leap up yet again. In one of the richest countries in Europe in terms of——

Seanad: Pension Provisions: Statements. (11 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: ——in terms of current income per head it is inevitable that costs will rise as, otherwise, 25% of the population will be forced to sit still while everybody else gets rich. To have any fairness in society people on lower wages must advance.

Seanad: Pension Provisions: Statements. (11 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: That will push up the costs. Other costs are due to appalling inefficiencies in our society because of the lack of competition in areas such as banking, insurance and the failure to invest in infrastructure, but I do not wish to be diverted. The fundamental issue, and I do not understand the hostility to this, is that the only way to provide for people in their retirement is by funding it...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: Will the Leader ask the Minister of Transport to attend the House? There is great concern in my home city regarding the Aer Rianta debt, which we were told would be entirely attributed to Dublin Airport. It is now suggested that €160 million of that debt will be payable by the Cork Airport Authority. That authority did not decide to spend €160 million on the new terminal. Aer Rianta did...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I can now read the Leader's mind.

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: I just had to look into my heart to know what the Leader was thinking. The fundamental issue is that an undertaking was given on the handling of the Aer Rianta break-up, and there now appears to be a retreat from that undertaking. Dublin Airport has dominated the headlines in this area, but the spin-off from the break-up of Aer Rianta needs to be debated in the House again. I ask the Leader...

Seanad: Order of Business. (11 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: Yes. There is a great tendency to employ such consultants, and we could show the Dáil how to deal with legislation in a reasonably efficient fashion. It clearly needs some guidance from somewhere. Three Dáil Bills are listed on the Order Paper today. One is delayed because other people cannot deal with it. That is the Interpretation Bill 2000. I suppose we are lucky it does not date from...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: This House has stood firmly behind the family and friends of the late Robert McCartney. Yesterday it was stated on RTE that the family insisted Mr. McCartney was killed by the Provisional IRA. Today it was stated on RTE that Mr. McCartney was alleged to have been killed by members of the Provisional IRA. Robert McCartney was murdered by members of the IRA. It is not an allegation made on the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 May 2005)

Brendan Ryan: The Senator will have noted my silence on the matter.